Recall wrap: Fire risk for almost 4000 Skoda and Cupra vehicles

Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) has issued a pair of nationwide product safety recall notices this week affecting almost 4000 vehicles across several of its models including the Skoda Superb and Octavia, as well as the Cupra Formentor and Leon.

The first recall notice relates to the pair of Skoda passenger cars, with a total of 3801 Superbs and Octavias built between 2020 and 2024 called back to the workshop.

A manufacturing issue is said to be the cause of the recall notice, which relates to a potentially incorrectly installed heat shield between the brake master-cylinder and the exhaust.

“As a result, a connection to the brake fluid reservoir could melt. If this occurs, brake fluid may leak and cause a reduction in braking performance and/or if brake fluid leaks on to a hot exhaust there is a risk of a vehicle fire,” said VGA in its recall notice.

Meantime, owners of Cupra Formentor and Leon vehicles built between 2020 and 2022 have been issued with the same warning in a separate recall notice because they too could experience a reduction in braking performance and/or a vehicle fire could increase the risk of an accident causing serious injury or death.

Visit the federal government’s Vehicle Recalls website to see if your Skoda’s vehicle identification number (VIN) or your Cupra’s VIN is involved in either recall.

Owners of affected Skoda and Cupra vehicles are being asked to contact their local Volkswagen dealership to organise free inspection and repair.

Separately, Audi Australia has recalled 82 examples of the Audi Q7 and Q8 large luxury SUVs built in 2023, including all variants across the range.

Audi says that due to a manufacturing defect the front passenger airbag may not have been installed correctly. The airbag therefore may not provide sufficient protection for the front seat occupant in the event of an accident, which could increase the risk of injury or death.

You can view the recall notice and check if your VIN is included at the Vehicle Recalls website.

Audi says it will contact affected owners to arrange inspection and, if necessary, rectification work.

Meanwhile, less than a handful (four) of the 368 Jaguar I-PACE electric SUVs that were recalled last June – all variants built between 2018 and 2020 – have been issued a secondary recall this week for further rectification.

“Due to an incorrect service diagnostic tool and software update, the affected vehicles remain with the safety defect. As a result, vehicles may experience a thermal overload. If this occurs, vehicle occupants may identify smoke or fire emanating from underneath the vehicle,” said Jaguar Land Rover in its fresh recall notice.

You can check your vehicle is affected by viewing the list of affected VINs at the Vehicle Recalls website.

Affected vehicles require an update to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) software using the correct service diagnostic tool. Owners are being asked to contact their local Jaguar dealership to have the update completed, free of charge.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au